Folding top for vehicles.



N. HOLDEN.

FOLDING TOP FOR VEHlCLES APPLICATION FILED JAN. 2. 1914.

1,155,728. Patented Oct. 5,1915;

5 I v I 8 4%25 l/llvvlvrol? WITNESSES:

F na/mus UNITED- STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NEWTON HOLDEN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR T HOLDEN CINE MAN TOP COMPANY,

-INC., A CORPORATION" OF NEW "51033.1(.

FOLDING TOP FOR VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Got. 5, 1915.

Application filed January 2, 1914. Serial No. 809,961.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NEWTON HOLDEN, a

citizen of the United States, and a residentof New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Tops for Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to fold ng tops for 10 vehicles, particularly tops of this character operable by one person and afiording an unobstructed outlook.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a folding top having an outrigger how provided with an intermediate joint and having simple and efficient means whereby the upward bending of the outrigger bow at its intermediate pivotal joint is prevented, the said means also serving as a suspension for the forward portion of the top To this end, I provide a link PIVOi/Gd at one end on the intermediate bow and having an extension at the other end pivoted upon the forward portion of the outrigger how, there being a flattened portion at the unction of the link and the extension adapted to normally rest upon the inner portion ofthe outrigger bow. Torender theintermediate joint of the outrigger bow incapable of downward bending when the top is set up, I pivotally mount two links of substantially equal length uponeacli portion of the outrigger bow and connect the links by an upward opening break joint, the point of onnectionof the links upon the outrigger bovc being a distance from the intermediate joint of the bow equal to their own lengths Thus, when the top is set up, the two links are in alinement with the outrigger bow, 40 and, therefore, prevent the-outrigger bow from bending downward at its intermediate joint.

Further objects and advantages will appear from the following detailed description and the features of novelty will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a diagrammatic elevation of the top as set up. Fig. 2 is an elevation showing the top folded and its position just before it is pushed back upon the rear of the vehicle, andalso 1l lustrates in broken lines, the relative positions of the various parts when the outrigger bow is first bent at its intermediate joint. Fig. 3

is a detail plan View illustrating the disposition of the parts at the joint in the outrigger bow.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the main bow l is pivotally fastened to suitable brackets upon the vehicle. Pivotally mount. ed upon the main bow is a forward bow 2, upon which are mounted an auxiliary how 3 and an outrigger bow comprising portions and 5 pivotally jointed together a": 6. In order to render the outrigger bow secure against upward bending at its intermediate joint 6, I provide a link 7 pivoted to the forward bow 2 and having an extension 8, the outerend of which is pivoted to the outrigger portion 4: at a point 9. At the junction of the link 7 and its extension 8, I preferably form a flat portion 10 which is adapted to rest upon the outrigger portion 5.

The extension 8 forms a stop for the joint 6 and the latter is thus rendered perfectly rigid so far as upward bending is con cerned. In order to obviate any possibility of downward bending of the outrigger bow at the joint when the top is set up, I provide links 11 and 12 of substantially equal length pivoted at one end respectively to the outrigger portions 4: and 5 at points 13 and 1- the distance between said pivotal points and the intermediate outrigger joint being substantially equal to the length of the links. The other ends of the links are connected by a break joint 15 which opens upwardly.

It will thus be seen that when thetop is set up and suitably fastened either to the wind shield or to the forward part of the vehicle in the usual manner, the outrigger bow will be rigidly retained and rendered proof against either upward or downward bending.

Suitably pivoted upon the break joint 15 is an auxiliary bow l6. \Vhen it is desired to fold the top, the how 16 affords convenient means whereby the break joint of the links 11 and 12 may be broken upwardly. Thus, when it is desired to foldthe top, the forward portion of the same is unfastened, from the wind shield or other portion of the vehicle, upward pressure with one hand may be applied to the end of the outrigger bow adjacent to the place indicated by the arrow and simultaneously with the other hand at a point adjacent the auxiliary how 16, thus breaking the joint 15 and causing the outrigger bow to bend at its intermediate joint. Further actuation of the outrigl ger portion 4 will cause the entire top to collapse and fold back upon the rear portion of the vehicle. The link 7 and its extension 8 not onl serves to prevent the upward bending o the outrigger how, but also serves as a suspension member for the outrigger bow, so that very little, if any, strain is borne by the material of the top itself.

When the top is folded, only three bows are visible from the exterior, namely, the main bow, the forward bow and the forward section of the outrigger bow. Thus, the neatness of the top is enhanced and its pre sents an appearance of simplicity and compactness from the exterior.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A folding top for vehicles comprising a main bow, a forward bow, an outrigger bow extending from. the forward bow and having intermediate its ends a joint breakable in both directions, an auxiliary bow, means for mounting the same upon the front and rear sections of the outrigger bow, and a suspending link connecting the forward bow with the front section of the outrigger bow, said suspending link passing directly above and closely adjacent to the joint of the outrigger bow to prevent upward flexnre thereof.

2. A folding top for-vehicles comprising a main how, a 'liorward bow, an outrigger bow extending from the forward bow and having a joint intermediate the ends there' of, a pair of links mounted upon the p'or tions of the outrigger bow at each side of the joint, said links being connected to gether with a break joint opening upward only and passing into substantial alinement when the top is set up, an auxiliary bow pivoted to said links at their break joint, and means connected to' the forward bow and engaging both portions of the outrigger bow for preventing the flexure of the.

intermediate joint when the top is set up.

3. A folding top for vehicles comprising a main bow, a forward. how, an outrigger bow extending from the forward bow and having a joint intermediate the ends thereof, a pair of links mounted upon the portions of the outrigger bow at each side of the joint, said links being connected together with a break joint opening upward only, an auxiliary bow pivoted to said links at their break joint, and a link mounted upon the forward bow and engaging the portions of the outrigger bow at. each side of the joint to prevent iicxure thereof when the top is set up.

the interior 02 4. A folding top for vehicles comprising a mam bow, a forward bow, an outrigger bow extending from the forward bow and having a joint intermediate the ends thereof, a pair of links mounted upon the portions of the outrigger bow at each side of the joint, said links being connected to gether with a break joint opening upwa only, an auxiliary bow pivoted to said linki at their break joint, and a link connectingv the forward bow with the forward portion of the outrigger bow and having an abutment engaging the rear portion of the rig 'er bow to prevent ficxure of the joint the joint, said. links being of a length equal to the distance of their pivotal connection with the outrigger bow to the intermediate joint, said links being connected together with a break joint opening upward onl and adapted to come into alinement wit the outrigger how when the top is set up, an auxiliary bow pivoted to the links at their break joint, and a link connecting the forward bow with one of the portions of the outrigger bow and having an abutment engaging the other portion of the outrigger bow to prevent fiexure of the intermediate joint when the top set up.

6. A folding top for vehicles comprising a main. bow, a forward ou', an outrigger bow extending from th "and bow and having a joint intermedian its ends, means for suspending the outrigr bow from the forward how, aid means Hung located at the bows, W tilia'r'y bows mounted upon the forward "l outrigger bows, joint-id link. pivoted r he interior of the outrigger how and. say-porting at their joint, one f ti auxiliary ows, said auxiliary bows and spending means bum disposed at the interim of the main baw forward bow and forward section of the outrigger how when the top is folded to present to view only three bows when the top is folded.

Signed at New York city, inthe county of New York. and State of New York. this.

31st day of December D. 1913.

NEWTON HOLD-EN.

Witnesses FRANK M. ASHLEY, WM. 1. Conan. 

